Wall structure and support assembly



June 14, 1966 v. E. SAUER WALL STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLY m m M Sheets-Sheet 1 Victor E. Souer mw wwms Filed Dec. 20, 1962 June 14, 1966 v. E. SAUER WALL STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1962 g, Victor E. Souer BY #y, .M W. ATTORNEYS Fig.4

June 14, 1966 v. E. sAUER 3,255,563

WALL STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Yiled Dec. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Victor E. Souer 3,255,563 WALL STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Victor E. Sauer, 130 Cole St, Dallas, Tex. Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,258 3 (Ilaims. (Cl. 52-404) This invention relates to building structures and more particularly to wall or partition structures.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved wall structure which may be easily installed between and secured to a floor and ceiling.

Another object is to provide a wall structure having a support assembly securable to a floor and a support assembly securable to a ceiling for rigidly holding a plurality of vertical wall panels attheir lower and upper portions which are quickly and easily assembled at the site of installation.

Still another object is to provide a wall structure whichis fire resistant and possesses good sound insulation characteristics.

A further object is to provide a wall structure wherein the wall panels supported between the floor support assembly and the ceiling support assembly have vertical tongue and groove connections at their adjacent vertical ends to provide optimum sound insulation and fire resistant characteristics to the wall structure and the rigid connection of adjacent wall panels to one another.

A still further object is to provide a wall structure wherein the floor support assembly has an upwardly facing support surface on which the bottom surfaces of the wall panels rest and flange members which extend upwardly on opposite lower portions of the sides of the wall panels to retain the wall panels against lateral movement.

A still further object is to provide a floor support assembly having a longitudinally extending passage or raceway in which electrical and telephone conduits, wires or other similar means may be disposed.

Another object is to provide a wall structure having vertically extending passages at selected junctures of adjacent wall panels through which conduits and the like may extend from the passage of the floor support assembly.

Still another object is to provide a support assembly for wall panels of a wall structure which is securable to a ceiling or floor of a building structure and which has parallel vertical spaced longitudinally extending flanges engageable with opposed side surfaces of a wall panel receivable therebetween for holding the panel against lateral movement.

Still another object is to provide a support assembly wherein one of the flanges is provided by a detachable member whereby the installation of the wall panels in the support assembly is facilitated.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in section and with some parts broken away, of a wall structure embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional View of the wall structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the ceiling support assembly of the wall structure illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective exploded 3,255,563 Patented June 14, 1966 FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the manner in which the vertical end of one wall panel is securable to the side of another wall panel;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of a wall structure embodying the invention having a modified form of the fioor support assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the floor support assembly of the wall structure illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view showing another modified form of the wall structure; and,

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a connector assembly for connecting vertically aligned sections of the wall panels.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawing, the wall structure 10 embodying the invention includes a floor support assembly 11,'a ceiling support assembly 12 and the wall panels 13 which extend therebetween and are secured thereby to the floor and the ceiling of a building structure.

The floor assembly includes a central longitudinal member or channel 14 formed of steel or the like having a vertical Web 15, a horizontal longitudinally extending bottom flange 16 which rests on the floor of the building structure and which is rigidly secured to the floor by screws or bolts 17 which extend through the spaced apertures 18 of the bottom flange. The top horizontal flange 19 of the central channel extends from the vertical web thereof. The top flange 19 isof lesser width than the bottom flange 16 thereof. The downwardly extending vertical flange 22 thereof is disposed inwardly of the upwardly extending vertical flange 23 of the bottom flange of the central member. The two vertical flanges are of considerably shorter combined width than the width of the vertical web 15 and thus provide a longitudinally extending opening 24 therebetween which promember whereby the mounting of the central member to vides easy access to the interior of the central channel the floor by means of the screws or bolts 17 is facilitated.

view of the floor support assembly of the wall structure The open side or longitudinally extending horizontal opening of the central channel is closable by a side closure member 25 whose lower vertical section 26 has inwardly offset tabs 27 integral therewith which are adapted to hook over the upper edgeof the vertical flange 23 of the central member and thus releasably secure the side closure member to the central member.

The closure member has an intermediate groove 30 formed by the lower horizontal section 31 which extends from the upper edge of the lower vertical section 26, the inner vertical section 32 which extends from the inner edge of the lower horizontal section and an upper horizontal longitudinal section 33 which extends outwardly from the upper edge of the inner vertical section to the lower edge of the vertically upwardly extending upper vertical section 35 of the closure member 25. The inner surface of the inner vertical section 32 of the closure member abuts or-engages the outer surface of the vertical flange 22 of the central member and is securable thereto in any suitable manner, as by self tapping or sheet metal screws 37 which extend through the aligned bores or apertures 38 and 39 of the side closure member and the central member. The top surface of the upper horizontal section 33 of the closure member is aligned with the top surface of the top flange 19 of the central member for a purpose to be described below.

A longitudinal insulation channel member 40 of the floor support assembly 11 has a lower horizontal longitudinally extending flange 41 which is adapted to rest on the floor and a vertical longitudinal web 42 of the same height as the vertical web of the central member. The Web of the carrier member has inwardly offset tabs or hooks 43 integral therewith which are movable through the apertures or slots 44 of the vertical web of the central member and engageable therewith when the insulation channel member is moved downwardly whereby the channel member once attached to the web of the central member can not be released for removal therefrom except by upward and then lateral outward movement thereof relative to the carrier member. The top horizontal flange 45 of the insulation channel member has a longitudinal vertical flange 46. The top surface of the flange 45 is at the same level as the top surfaces of the top flange 19 and the upper horizontal section 33 of the central member and the side closure member, respectively, whereby the bottom portions of the wall panel 13 are receivable between the upper vertical flanges 35 and 46 of the side closure member and the insulation channel member, rest on these projected surfaces and are held against lateral movement by the engagement of the flanges 35 and 46 with the outer lower portions of the side surfaces of the Wall panels.

The central channel member and the side closure member 25 define a longitudinal horizontally extending passage or raceway 50 through which may extend horizontal conduits 51 and in which may be positioned the usual outlet boxes 52 to which the conduits 51 are connected. Electric power lines and telephone wires may extend through the conduits and be connected to suitable outlet plugs, such as the telephone outlet plug 54, which extend through suitable apertures 56 provided in the lower vertical section 26 of the side closure member 25 and the'apertures 57 provided in the usual rubber or plastic floor board 58 of the wall structure. The cover plates of such outlet plugs are secured to the outlet boxes by the usual screws 59 received in the threaded bores of the tabs 60 of such outlet boxes. The top flange 19 of the central channel member 14 is provided with apertures 61 through which extend a vertical conduit 62 whose lower end may be connected to an outlet box 52 so that the electric or telephone wires may extend upwardly through such vertical conduit and through the wall structure.

The insulation channel member carries a longitudinally extending strip 64 of fire resistant and sound absorbent material, such as a strip of gypsum board.

The ceiling support assembly 12 includes an upwardly opening channel member 70 having a horizontal web 71 and upwardly extending spaced flanges 72 and 73. The upwardly extending vertical flange 73 and the downwardly extending vertical wall panel retainer flange 75 of the channel member 70 are integral with one another and the web 71, being formed by a section 76 of the channel member folded downwardly from the web 71 and then upwardly. The channel member 70 is rigidly secured to the ceiling by screws 76 which extend upwardly through a strip 77 of fire resistant and sound absorbent material, such as gypsum board, disposed in the channel member and a strip 78 of rubber or other resilient substance which seals between the strip 77 and the ceiling since the inherent thickness of the sealing strip is such that in its normal condition its upper surface is disposed above the upper edges of the vertical flanges 72 and 73 of the channel member.

' A wall panel retainer plate 80 is secured to the flange 72 by means of screws 81 which are receivable in suitable apertures 83 and 84 of the retainer plate and of the flange 72. The screw may be self tapping or sheet metal screws. The retainer plate has an upturned flange portion 85 whose inner surface engages the outer surfaces of the wall panels and which is of the same thickness as the flange 7 2.

The web 71 of the channel may be provided with a plurality of laterally outwardly extending deformable strips 88 which are secured to the under surface of the web by any suitable means, as by spot welding, and which are bendable downwardly to the vertical broken line position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to temporarily retain the wall panels in vertical position on the floor support assembly before the retainer plate 80 is secured to the channel member by the screws.

The wall panels 13 are preferably formed of a plurality of gypsum boards 90 bonded to one another in any suitable manner, as by a suitable adhesive. The two innermost sections 90a of each wall panel are displaced longitudinally of the two outermost sections 9011 of the wall panel whereby the projecting portions of the two inner sections at one end of the wall panel provide a tongue 91 whose vertical end surfaces 92 may be beveled convergently inwardly and whereby the other end of each wall panel is provided with a vertically extending outwardly opening groove 94. The ends of the two inner sections of each wall panel defining the inner surface of the groove 94 may be beveled convergently inwardly as shown in FIGURE 5.

The outer sections 9% of each channel may have their extreme vertical edges 196 beveled convergently inwardly to provide decorative vertical grooves to the wall structure at each juncture of two adjacent wall panels. The tongue 91 of each wall panel extends into the groove of the adjacent wall panel to provide great rigidity to the wall structure and to provide greater fire resistance and sound absorption characteristics to the wall structure since no perpendicular joint extends directly from one side of the wall structure to the other side of the wall structure at the junctures of the wall panels.

The tongue 91b at the juncture of two panels Where a conduit, such as the conduit 62, extends upwardly through the wall structure is shortened so that it does not extend completely through the groove 94 of the adjacent panel and provides the vertical passage through which the conduit extends. The conduit 62 of course extends through suitable apertures in the web 71 of the channel member of the ceiling support assembly, the strip 77 carried therein and the resilient strip 78.

When it is desired to install a wall structure between the floor and ceiling of a building structure, the channel member 14 of the floor support assembly is secured to the floor at the desired location by means of the screws 17 which are screwed into the floor. The screw driver may extend through the aperture 96 in the top flange 19 10- cated immediately above each. hole 18. The holes 96 are of course provided to facilitate such manipulation of the screws which may be positioned by a hand introduced between the horizontal flanges of the central channel member through the longitudinal opening 24 of the channel member 14. The insulation channel member 40 is then mounted on the vertical web 15 by inserting the tabs or hooks 43 of the insulation channel member through the apertures 44 in the web of the central member and then moving the insulation channel member downwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The channel member 70 of the ceiling support assembly, the strip 77 and the sealing strip 78 are then secured to the ceiling in alignment with the central member of the floor support assembly by the screws 76. The wall panels are then inserted between the downwardly facing surface of the web 71 of the channel member of the ceiling support assembly and the upper flanges 19 and 45 of the central insulation channel members and then are supported thereby. As each well panel 13 is inserted between the channel members of the ceiling and floor support assembly, each wall panel is moved longitudinally to insert its tongue 91 into the groove 94 of the immediately adjacent panel member. The retainer plates 80 of the channel members 70 are bent down to temporarily hold each wall panel against outward displacement. When all of the wall panels are properly positioned between the ceiling channel member 70 and the floor channel member 14, the retainer plate 80 is secured to the ceiling channel member by means of the screws 81 and then holds the upper portions of the wall panels against outward displacement in one direction while the flange 75 holds the uper portions of the wall panels against outward displacement in the opposite direction. The side closure member 25 is then secured to the channel member 14 of the floor assembly by tilting the side closure member outwardly to permit the offset tabs 27 to extend inwardly past and hook over the upper edge of the vertical flange 23 of the central channel member and the closure member is then moved downwardly and at the same time pivoted toward the central member to cause its upper horizontal longitudinal section 33 thereof to move below the lower ends of the wall panels and cause its inner vertical section 32 to abut the vertical flange 22 of the central member. Since the side closure member and the central member are made of steel or other such strong but slightly resilient substance, the side closure member flexes resiliently to any slight degree necessary to permit such pivotal and downward movement of the side closure member relative to the central member. The side closure member is then rigidly secured to the central channel member by the screws 37.

The cover plates of the outlet boxes are secured to the outlet boxes by means of the screws 59 and the strip 64 is installed in the insulation channel member 40. The-floor or base boards 58 are then secured to the wall structure by a'suitable bonding agent or adhesive. The screws 37 are of course disposed in the groove 30 and therefore do not cause the adjacent floor board 58 to have unsightly protrusions which also may cause undesired wear or improper bonding of such floor board 58 to the wall structure.

The insulation channel member is preferably a detachable member for facilitating transporting and storage of the components of the floor support assembly but it could of course be permanently secured to the central channel member by welding or the like.

It will now be apparent that the wall structure is easily assembled at the site of installation from a plurality of prefabricated elements.

It will now also be apparent that the wall structure has good fire resistant and sound insulating or absorbing characteristics since the sealing strip 78 sealingly and resiliently engages the ceiling, the gypsum board strip 77 is disposed therebeneath in the channel member 70 of the ceiling support assembly and the insulating gypsum board strip 64 is disposed in the insulation channel member 40 of the floor support assembly so that the wall structure closes the opening of a building structure from the ceiling to the floor and has sound insulating and heat resistant means extending from the ceiling to the floor and also throughout the length of the wall structure since the wall panels are connected together at their adjacent vertical ends by tongue and groove connections.

It will further be apparent that the floor support assembly has a pair of longitudinally and upwardly extending spaced parallel vertical wall panel engaging flanges or sections 35 and 46 which engage opposite side surfaces of the wall panels and hold the lower portions of the wall panels against lateral displacement and that the ceiling support assembly similarly has a pair of downwardly extending longitudinal spaced parallel vertical panel wall engaging flanges or sections 75 and 85 which are aligned with the upwardly extending flanges of the floor support assembly and which prevent lateral movement or displacement of the upper portions of the wall panels.

It will also be apparent that one pair of lower and upper flanges 35 and 85 on one side of the wall panels are provided by members which are securable to the other members of the floor and ceiling support assemblies after the wall panels have been inserted therebetween.

The extreme vertical end of the first wall panel, such as the wall panel 13a, FIGURE 6, which abuts the ceiling and floor assemblies may abut a wall panel 13b of a wall structure which extends perpendicularly thereto and may be secured to such wall panel by a vertical connector channel member 100 whose web 101 abuts the side of the panel 13b and is rigidly secured thereto by means of suitable screws 102 which extend into suitable anchor members 103 embedded in or driven into the panel 13b. The panel 13a is provided with sheet metal connector channel 6 V members 105 whose webs 106 abut the outer sections 90b of the wall panel 13b and whose flanges 107 and 108 abut the outer sides of the wall panel section and the outer surfaces of the parallel flanges 109 of the connector channel member 100,.respectively. It will be apparent of course that suitable apertures or grooves are provided in the vertical end surfaces of such panel 13a in which the flanges 108 and 109 are received. The screws 111 extend through suitable apertures in the abutting flanges 108 and 109 of the connector channel members and thus rigidly secure the wall panel 13a to the wall panel 13b.

The wall panel, such as the wall panel 130, which is last inserted between the floor and ceiling support assemblies of one wall structure 10 and whose outer end surface must abut the side of a wall panel, such as the wall panel 13b, of a wall structure which extends perpendicularly relative thereto cannot be connected to such panel 13b by the connector channel members since it must be pivoted about a vertical axis and its vertical end surface slide past the side surface of the panel as it is moved into position between the ceiling and floor support assemblies. The end of .the panel 130 which is to abut the panel 13b is not provided with a tongue or groove and is pivoted about a vertical axis while its tongue or groove moves into telescoping connecting relationship with the groove or tongue of its adjacent panel of its wall structure and between the opposed upwardly and downwardly facing horizontal surfaces of the floor and ceiling support assemblies until its vertical end surface 113 moves into abutting relationship with the side surface of the panel 13b. The panels 13b and 130 flex slightlyduring such pivotal movement of the panel 130 into position to permit such pivotal movement of the wall panels 13a. The flat or planar end surface 113 then abuts or is in very close relationship to the adjacent side surface of the wall panel 13b and such end of the panel 130 is sealingly secured to the panel 13b by a suitable tape and bedding seal means 115 which seals therebetween.

It will therefore be seen that a new and improved wall structure has been provided which is easily installed between the floor and ceiling of a building structure and whose panels'may extend between parallel spaced walls of the structure and be rigidly secured thereto.

The modified form of the wall structure illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 is similar in all respects to the wall structure 10 and accordingly elements of the wall structure 150 have been supplied with the same reference characters to which the subscript a has been added as the corresponding elements of the wall structure 10.

The floor support assembly 11a of the wall structure 156 differs from the floor support assembly 11 in that it does not have rubber or plastic floor boards which are bonded or easily secured to the wall structure but has the metal floor panels or base boards 151 and 152. The floor panels, which are identical in structure, are of channel shape having vertical webs 153 and upper and lower horizontal flanges 154 and 155 provided with inwardly extending vertical flanges 157 and 158, respectively. The upwardly extending vertical flange 158 of the floor panel 151 abuts the vertical section 26a of the side closure member 25a and the downwardly extending vertical flange 157 thereof extends between the outer surface of the wall panel and the outwardly and upwardly inclined uppermost portion 160 of the upper vertical section or flange 35a of the side closure member 25a. Similarly, the lower upwardly extending vertical flange 158 of the floor panel 152 abuts the outer surface of the flange 41a of the insulation channel member 40a and its downwardly extending flange 157 extends downwardly between the upwardly and outwardly extending upper portion 161 of the vertical flange 46a ofthe insulation channel member 40a and the outer surface of the wall panel. The floor plates 151 and 152 are secured to the floor support assembly merely by placing their upper vertical flanges 157 against the sides of the wall panels 13 and then moving them downwardly to cause these upper vertical flanges to engage between the upwardly and outwardly extending portions 160 and 161 of the upper verticalsection 35a of the side closure member 25a and the vertical flange 46a of the insulation channel member 40a. The outer portions 160 and 161 flex resiliently outwardly to permit such telescoping movement of the upper vertical flanges 157 between such outwardly extending portions and the outer side surfaces of the wall panel. The flanges 35a and 46a then resiliently hold the floor plates against outward displacement.

It will thus be apparent that the wall structure embodying the invention may be provided with removable metal floor plates instead of the rubber or plastic floor boards 158.

The wall structure 175 illustrated in FIGURE 9 is similar to the wall structure 10 and the various elements thereof have therefore been provided with the same reference numbers, to which the subscript b has been added, as the corresponding elements of the wall structure 10. The wall structure 175 difiers from the wall structure 10 in that the floor support assembly 176 thereof is identical to its ceiling support assembly. The wall structure 175 is installed in such locations where a raceway or passage for electric conduits and the like in the wall structure is not needed.

It will be apparent that the channel member 70b and the retainer plate 80b of the floor support assembly 176 are identical in structure with the channel member 70b and the retainer plate 80b of the ceiling support assembly 12b. It will be apparent that the insulation strip which may be a strip of gypsum board is inserted in the downwardly opening recess of the channel member 70b between its vertical flanges 72b and 73b and that the retainer plate 80b is secured to the flange 72b by the screws 81b. The rubber floor boards 58b are of course bonded or adhesively secured to both side surfaces of the wall panels 13 and to the floor support assembly. It will be apparent that the wall structure 175 is installed by first securing the channel members 7012 of the ceiling and support assemblies to the ceiling and to the floor by means of screws 76b and 180, inserting the wall panels 13 into place, then securing the retainer plates 80b to the channel members 70b and then securing the rubber or plastic wallboards to the wall structure.

FIGURE 10 illustrates the manner in which vertically aligned wall panels 13d and 13:: may be secured together by means of a connector assembly 200. Such vertically aligned panels are employed where the height of the wall structure is such that the available wall panels 13d and 13s cannot span the distance or space between the floor and ceiling support assemblies.

The connector assembly 200 includes a substantially Z-shaped member 201 which has a horizontal web 202 adapted to rest on the upper end surface of the lower wall panels 13e and vertical retainer flange 203 extending from one longitudinal edge of the web which is engageable with the upper portions of one side surface of the wall panels 132. A vertical flange 204 extending upwardly from the other longitudinal edge of the web 202 is secured to a longitudinal vertical retainer plate 205 by a plurality of spaced screws 206 which extend .into suitable aligned apertures in the retainer plate and 201 and is rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by spot, welding. Its vertical flange 212 extends upwardly and abuts the lower portions of the side surfaces of the upper wall panels 13d opposite from that engaged by the retainer plate 205. The flanges 204 and 212 of the Z member and the angle member thus form an upwardly opening trough or groove in which is disposed a longitudinally extending sound and fire resistant strip, which may be of gypsum board, on which the lower end surface of the panel 13d rests. It will thus be apparent that the connector assembly 200 permits the connection of vertically aligned panels 13d and 13e of a wall structure where the height of the wall structure must be relatively great and the height of the wall panels is not suflicient to bridge the gap between the floor and ceiling assemblies.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A wall structure including: a ceiling support assembly securable to a ceiling of a building structure, said support assembly securable to a ceiling including a longitudinally extending channel member having a longitudinal horizontal web and a pair of parallel spaced upwardly extending vertical longitudinal flanges, sound insulating and sealing means disposed in said channel member between said flanges and engageable with a ceiling when said support assembly is secured to a ceiling, said channel member having a downwardly extending longitudinal vertical flange at one longitudinal side thereof, and means removably secured to said channel member providing a downwardly extending longitudinal vertical flange at the other longitudinal side thereof; a support assembly securable to a floor of a building structure including a central channel member having a vertical side web and vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal flanges, said lower horizontal flange being of greater width than said upper horizontal flange, said horizontal flanges having vertical flanges extending toward each other defining a longitudinal side opening of said central channel member, a side closure member removably engaged with said vertical flanges of said central member for closing said opening, an insulation channel member having a vertical web, insulating means disposed in said insulation channel member, said webs of said insulation channel member and said central channel member being provided with cooperable means releasably securing said insulation channel member to said central channel member, said side closure member and said insulating channel member each having a longitudinally extending vertical flange extending upwardly beyond the plane of the upper horizontal flange of the central channel member, said flanges being laterally spaced from each other; and a plurality of wall panels disposed between said support assemblies and having upper portions disposed between and engaged by said spaced downwardly extending flanges of said ceiling support assembly and lower portions disposed between and engaged by said upwardly extending vertical flanges of said floor support assembly.

2. A wall structure including: a ceiling support assembly securable to a ceiling of a building structure, said support assembly securable to a ceiling including a longi tudinally extending channel member having a longitudinal horizontal web and a pair of parallel spaced upwardly extending vertical longitudinal flanges, sound insulating and sealing means disposed in said channel member between said flanges and engageable with a ceiling when said support assembly is secured to a ceiling, said channel member having a downwardly extending longitudinal vertical flange at one longitudinal side thereof, and removably secured to said channel member providing a downwardly extending longitudinal vertical flange at the other longitudinal side thereof; a support assembly securable to the floor of a building structure including a central channel member having a vertical side web and vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal flanges, said lower horizontal flange being of greater width than said upper horizontal flange, said horizontal flanges having vertical flanges extending toward each other defining a longitudinal side opening of said central channel member, a side closure member having means removably engaging said vertical flanges of said central member for closing said opening, an insulation channel member having a vertical web secured to said vertical web of said central channel member, insulating means disposed in said insulation channel member, said webs of said insulation channel member and said central channel member being provided with cooperable means releasably securing said insulation channel member to said central channel member, said side closure member and said insulation channel member each having an upper horizontal surface lying in the same plane with and extending outwardly of the upper surface of the upper horizontal flange of said central channel member each of said horizontal surfaces terminating in a longitudinally extending upwardly directed vertical flange; and a plurality of wall panels disposed between said support assemblies and having upper portions disposed between and engaged by said spaced downwardly extending flanges of said ceiling support assemblies and lower portions disposed between and engaged by said upwardly extending vertical flanges of said floor support assembly, said wall panels having bottom surfaces resting on said upper horizontal surfaces of said side closure member, said insulation channel member and said upper horizontal flange of said centralchannel member.

3. A support assembly for a wall structure including: a central channel member having a vertical side web and vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal flanges, said lower horizontal flange being of greater width than said upper horizontal flange, said lower horizontal flange being adapted to rest on a floor of a building structure and to be secured thereto, said horizontal flanges having vertical flanges extending toward each other and defining a longitudinal side opening of said central channel member; a side closure member having means removably engaging said vertical flanges of said central member for closing 10 said opening; and an insulation channel member having a vertical web secured to said vertical web of said central channel member and a pair of longitudinal horizontal spaced flanges extending from opposite upper and lower edges of the vertical web whereby insulating means may be disposed in said insulation channel member, said vertical webs of said central channel member and said insulation member being secured to one another, said side closure member and said insulation channel member each having an upper horizontal surface aligned with and extending laterally outwardly of the upper surface of the upper horizontal flange of said central channel member each of said horizontal surfaces terminating in a longitudinally extending upwardly directed vertical flange whereby bottom horizontal surfaces of wall panels whose lower portions are disposed between said upwardly extending spaced vertical flanges rest on said horizontal surfaces and are held against lateral displacement by engagement of the upwardly directed vertical flanges.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, HENRY C. SUTHERLAND,

Examiners. 

1. A WALL STRUCTURE INCLUDING: A CEILING SUPPORT ASSEMBLY SECURABLE TO A CEILING OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE, SAID SUPPORT ASSEMBLY SECURABLE TO A CEILING INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL HORIZONTAL WEB AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL SPACED UPWARDLY EXTENDING VERTICAL LONGITUDINAL FLANGES, SOUND INSULATING AND SEALING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CHANNEL MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FLANGES AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A CEILING WHEN SAID SUPPORT ASSEMBLY IS SECURED TO A CEILING, SAID CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL FLANGE AT ONE LONGITUDINAL SIDE THEREOF, AND MEANS REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID CHANNEL MEMBER PROVIDING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL FLANGE AT THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL SIDE THEREOF; A SUPPORT ASSMEBLY SECURABLE TO A FLOOR OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE INCLUDING A CENTRAL CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL SIDE WEB AND VERTICALLY SPACED UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL FLANGES, SAID LOWER HORIZONTAL FLANGE BEING OF GREATER WIDTH THAN SAID UPPER HORIZONTAL FLANGE, SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGES HAVING VERTICAL FLANGES EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER DEFINING A LONGITUDINAL SIDE OPENING OF SAID CENTRAL CHANNEL MEMBER, A SIDE CLOSURE MEMBER REMOVABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID VERTICAL FLANGES OF SAID CENTRAL MEMBER FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING, AN INSULATION CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL WEB, INSULATING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID INSULATION CHANNEL MEMBER, SAID WEBS OF SAID INSULATION CHANNEL MEMBER AND SAID CENTRAL CHANNEL MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH COOPERABLE MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID INSULATION 